We All Scream…When the Ice Cream Truck Breaks Down

Preventative maintenance is one of the most crucial aspects of owning and operating a profitable food truck or ice cream truck. Especially during the hot summer months, it’s crucial to keep your truck in its absolute prime. With the wear and tear of excessive heat and maximum usage, it’s important to upkeep your vehicle with regular preventative maintenance. This could mean the difference between a $500 fix and a $5,000 component restoration.

However, no matter how well you maintain your food truck, you should always keep a healthy financial emergency fund and estimate higher costs to be sure you won’t be taken out of the game and lose profit if a problem does occur. Ice cream trucks demand even higher refrigeration upkeep since the temperature is critical in keeping the consistency and quality of the product at its absolute best.

Preventative maintenance is great for a food truck, but remember that its owner needs proper upkeep as well! Operating a truck requires long hours on your feet in hot weather so its important to take care of yourself just as well as you take of your truck. Remember to also check local guidelines and rules about limiting hours of operation, how often you can work a particular street or area, and how many stops you’re allowed to make.

Keep Your Food On The Move!

We offer a wide range of services for all food trucks, catering trucks, concession trailers, and mobile kitchens.

Don’t waste your time driving to a shop. We will go wherever you are!

Replacement parts on hand for ALL brands, sizes and applications

Licensed and EPA Certified

Service 24 Hours/Day – 7 Days/Week

Sales, Service and Installation for Any Application, Any Size, Any Brand.

Fowler and Sons, Inc. specializes in the sales, service and installation of all commercial refrigeration systems in restaurants, commercial and industrial kitchens, supermarkets and convenience stores. Refrigeration systems include refrigerators, walk-in coolers, freezers and ice machines.

Novar Certified

CPC Certified

Danfoss Certified

Licensed & EPA Certified

Factory Trained Technicians

Service and Install All Brands, All Sizes, All Applications

Replacement Parts On Hand for All Brands

Schedule a preventative maintenance checkup with Fowler and Sons before those hot summer months hit. Fix it now so you don’t have to replace it later!

Electricity rules the modern life–we can’t get away from it! It’s a really interesting facet of our lives. Read on for some interesting facts about electricity!

Just a single spark of static electricity can measure up to 3,000 volts!

You know the ocean is a scary place…watch out for electric eels which use strong electric shocks up to 500 volts for hunting and self-defense.

Birds love power lines, but they don’t get cooked up there–how?? Birds aren’t in danger of getting shocked as long as they remain on one power line. As soon as they touch another with a wing or foot, a circuit is created which allows electricity to flow through the body, ending in electrocution and a fried bird.

How does coal work? As the biggest source of energy in the world, the steam created from burning coal is used to spin turbines attached to generators.

You can’t see it with the naked eye, but lightning flows from the ground to the cloud. We see the part where the charge goes from the ground back up into the cloud. You can find very interesting slow-motion videos of this awesome natural occurance.

Winter is a tough time for anyone with long luscious locks or prone to being skittish, thanks to static electricity. It’s created when electrons from one object jump to another object. Maybe now that you know, you won’t jump when you get shocked!

If you thought turning your TV off is saving energy, think again! About 75% of electricity is used while products in the home are turned off. Desktops idle at 80 watts, while laptops idle at 20 watts. It might surprise you, but idle power uses more electricity than all of the solar panels in the U.S. combined!

What’s your guess for the most efficient appliance in your kitchen? If you guessed microwave, you’re correct! It uses 1/3 of the wattage of most ovens.

Electricity: Additions, Modifications & Indoor/Outdoor Lighting

Fowler and Sons, Inc. provides expert commercial electrical services to meet the needs of a various size companies. We can provide consultations for the best lighting for your business as well as provide full and custom installation of lights.

OUR SOLUTIONS INCLUDE:

All Electrical Wiring for Indoor Lighting

Consultation on Best Lights for Business

Full and Custom Installation of Lights

Service Indoor Lighting

Certified for All Health Department Issues for Lighting

Upfit Commercial Kitchens

Complete Service Change Outs

Installation of New Equipment

Interlock/Control Wiring

Interlock AAON Units

Smart $aver Energy Incentives Program

With Duke Energy’s Smart $aver® Incentive program, businesses can receive cash for installing high-efficiency lighting, HVAC, pumps and other qualifying equipment. The use of energy-efficient equipment enables your business to improve its bottom line by reducing energy consumption. And Smart $aver incentives help lower the costs associated with upgrades.

By taking advantage of the Smart $aver program you can:

Help buy down the incremental cost difference between standard and energy-efficient equipment.

Invest in high-efficiency equipment without exceeding annual budgets.

Contribute to a greener environment by reducing the amount of natural resources needed to keep your business running.

Happy First Day of Spring!

Surely you’ve heard us talk in every manner about “preventative maintenance.” Of course, there’s all kinds of ways to practice preventative maintenance, but it tends to be thrown around in a manner that assumes you know exactly what you need to be doing. Since spring is upon us with warmer weather, your HVAC could perhaps use some tuning up.

Here’s your first major tip: Maintenance is best done in the spring and fall for a system that both heats and cools. Perfect timing!

With outdoor units, there are several simple inspections that can be done leading up to the spring season including inspecting:

Unit for refrigerant level. Adjust if necessary.

Compressor and tubing for damage.

Coil & cabinet. May require cleaning.

Inside cabinet for dirt, leaves, and debris.

Fan motor and blades that may require lubrication.

Control box, controls, accessories, wiring, and connections. Check for wear or damage.

Opening a Restaurant is Easy! Right?

We’ve all been out on a Friday night to enjoy a relaxing dinner, letting someone else cook and clean up after us. It seems like a well-oiled machine, and sometimes the experience is so good that we wonder how hard it could actually be to open and maintain a functional restaurant. The answer to that is…you really don’t want to think about it unless you have a substantial supply of migraine medicine on hand. Since you’re dealing with food and people and the general public, the number of regulations, rules, inspections, and precautionary measures that must be considered and strictly enforced is dizzying.

Here’s a pretty comprehensive list of dates and vendors that must be considered before opening a restaurant (view here). That’s a huge list of tasks that need to be tackled. But really, that’s just the beginning.

What about the supplies you need for storage and food preparation? You can see that list right here.

Of course we don’t want just anyone handling our food. If we don’t prepare it ourselves, it would be very difficult to trust someone else to properly handle it if there weren’t regulations in place. You can see those over here.

As you can see, there is an overhaul of processes required to successfully open and maintain a restaurant, and this is just a glimpse. This is where Fowler and Sons come in! Not only do we offer several services necessary to opening your business (refrigeration, electrical, plumbing, backflow, maintenance, HVAC), but we also provide this one really helpful, crucial service: health department punch list inspections. Before your restaurant is inspected, let us look it over to determine what might be missing from the punch list. Some examples of the requests made by the health department include:

Provide calibrated ambient air thermometers for all individual units

Refinish floor mixer vase to meet original MFG OEM specs

Replace produce sink pitted faucet assembly handles

Repair leaking produce sink faucet

Provide separate water supply line for chemical feeder system at mop pit

One Company Does It All

Fowler and Sons is one of the only commercial service companies in the Raleigh area that can handle every aspect of health department inspection upgrades. We also handle installation, maintenance, and repairs of several necessary services including refrigeration, electrical, plumbing, and more. Fowler and Sons will come to your location equipped with all of the necessary materials and tools to complete the job in a timely manner. We have professionally serviced:

Restaurants

Food trucks

Breweries

Grocery stores

Convenience stores

Quick service restaurants

There’s no need to call several technicians or specialized companies to handle each task. Just call one company – Fowler and Sons.

HVAC woes this winter? But it’s not even winter yet! Half of the energy used in your business or home goes to heating and cooling. Making smart decisions about heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for your home or office can have a big effect on your utility bills. Save all that money for a nice summer vacation, maybe a cruise to the islands…

6 Tips for Winter Comfort

1. Freshen up that filter - Check your filter every month, especially in the summer and winter. Those are heavy-use months. If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. It should be changed at least every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool. Energy is important, don’t waste it with a dirty filter. A clean filter will prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system. That can often lead to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.

2. Once a year, that’s all it takes - A yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Have a Fowler and Sons representative come out to your home or business today to check your equipment.

3. There’s an app for it, actually - A programmable thermostat is great for people who are away from their business or home during set periods of time throughout the week. Use of a programmable thermostat can save you money over the course of a year in energy costs.

4. Seal ducts (it’s practically a zoo) - Sealing the heating and cooling ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent! Ducts that run through attics, crawlspaces, unheated basements, or garages can be big energy wasters.

5. We recommend Energy Star - Consider installing Energy Star equipment. If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old, and/or not keeping your home, or business comfortable, have it evaluated by a professional HVAC installer. Make sure you have had any air leaks repaired by a professional prior to HVAC installation. All these things will work together to provide an efficient heating/cooling system.

6. Don’t take shortcuts - Make sure you are receiving proper installation of your new equipment. Improper installation can reduce system efficiency by up to 30 percent — costing you more on your utility bills and possibly shortening the equipment’s life. Fowler and Sons prides itself on professional, courteous service.

Here at Fowler and Sons, we are comfort experts. We provide solutions, not just service. We pride ourselves on diagnosing the root cause of a maintenance problem, not just replacing parts that went bad as a result of a bigger issue. Our goal is to make preventative maintenance hassle-free. We offer preventative maintenance contracts to keep your system running at its best all year round without you having to lift a finger. You can also take advantage of our after-hours emergency service, NATE certified technicians, guaranteed friendly and courteous service.

Humidification

Temperature is just one factor in the comfort of your home, especially in dry weather. A humidifier can provide the right amount of moisture in every room, and help alleviate allergy symptoms.

Dehumidification

To avoid the problems caused by moisture, a properly sized dehumidifier is necessary to maintain relative humidity between 30-50% throughout the home, including the basement.

UV Light

Air Purifiers Installed in the main supply or return duct of a forced air heating or air conditioning system, UV light air purifiers kill airborne bacteria that can recirculate through your home 24 hours a day.

Electronic Air Cleaners

Reliable and easy to maintain, electronic air cleaners capture 99% of airborne particles in your home and deactivates those particles – keeping your home and family safe.

Mini-Split Ductless Systems

During the summer, this highly efficient and versatile heat pump will fill your room or multiple zones with cool, refreshing air. During fall and winter months, it gently warms your room.

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Our trained technicians are waiting for your call. Contact us today at Fowler and Sons.

Are You Winter Ready?

As the temperatures turn cooler outside, you may want to start thinking about staying warm inside. Fowler and Sons can help ensure energy efficient heating for your home or business. Our trained installers can discuss a variety of services for you including whole-house comfort assessments, zoning options and humidifier product options. Our residential services include preventative maintenance contracts, after-hours emergency service, NATE certified technicians, and guaranteed friendly and courteous service.

If your concern is a business property or office, we offer air balance services, Interlock AAON Units, and we can install smoke detectors in duct work. We pride ourselves on specializing in the sales, service and installation of all commercial heating and air systems in restaurants, commercial and industrial kitchens, supermarkets and convenience stores. We proudly offer the following services:

Novar Certified

CPC Certified

Danfoss Certified

Licensed & EPA Certified

Factory Trained Technicians

Service and Install All Brands, All Sizes, All Applications

Replacement Parts On Hand for All Brands

Stay warm with us at Fowler and Sons. With proper installation and maintenance of your HVAC/heating and cooling system, you can save money and energy. Give us a call today for an HVAC system estimate.

A Seasonal Maintenance Checklist for Preventative Maintenance

Just as your prepare your home for fresh spring weather, hot summer conditions, and harsh winter weather, your home also needs some attention to prepare for cooler autumn weather as well. The following is a list of common areas that are neglected during the fall, leading to prolonged problems in the following harsher seasons.

3. Check out your roof | You’ve heard it before, but this is a simple step that is easy to overlook, but vital in keeping your home in good condition. Remember, if you aren’t taking care of your roof, it’s not going to take care of you!

4. Utilize your curtains | During the day, leave your curtains and blinds open to let your house absorb the heat. Close them at night to retain the warmth your house has accumulated.

5. Inspect the outer walls | Your home is essentially a hollow shell, which means the outer walls—including the ceiling, floors, windows, walls, doors, etc.—are your greatest protection from the outdoors. Check for leaks, cracks, foundation settlement, gaps, anything that looks as if your home’s shell might not be in its prime condition.

6. Don’t forget your plumbing | We’ve all heard horror stories about frozen pipes bursting in the winter—don’t think this can’t be you! Take the extra care of hiring someone to check your pipes professionally to save you a big headache in the long run.

7. Consider weather stripping | Depending on your location, you may consider installing weather stripping around doors to keep out drafts, caulking around windows, adding storm windows, or perhaps even window films where applicable. Seal up your house for a cozy winter!

8. Seal your cracks | Cold weather moisture will seep into vulnerable areas such as cracked foundations or cracked driveways. Sealing up these areas proactively will prevent larger splits during and after harsh weather.

Fowler and Sons Has Your Back

Whether a home or business, every building needs checkups and maintenance to prepare for expected as well as severe weather conditions. Fowler and Sons, with the expertise of 30+ years of working experience, provides many of these services primarily to commercial businesses. We greatly believe in preventative maintenance, which is most appropriately done during these mild months (spring and autumn) between extreme seasons (summer and winter). Call us today for a quote on installation, upgrades, maintenance, and more.

Atlantic Hurricane Season: June-November

Are you ready to protect yourself and your family during severe weather? There is no ‘if’ when it comes to disaster striking. You should always assume that the worst will happen in order to adequately prepare for any potentially dangerous situation. As we are mid-hurricane season, it is important to be knowledgeable of the storms currently forming and how to be ready for the worst circumstances.

Plan Ahead

Prepare an emergency kit: Prepare this survival kit to last for at least 72 hours, filling it with food, water, first-aid materials, flashlights, etc. Keep in mind that basic services such as electricity, gas, water, telephone, and sewage treatment may not be available for several days, so your kit will need to contain items to manage in the worst circumstances. Make this kit handy so that you can grab it in a moment’s notice.

Check evacuation routes: Make sure you know where to go in an emergency. Don’t leave it for the last minute—print it now, laminate it, memorize it, keep it accessible for your family.

Have emergency arrangements:

Communicate with your family and establish a practiced emergency plan. Consider every aspect such as school, work, and extracurricular activities so that there is no guessing where your family will be after a disaster strikes.

If there is a bridge or flood area between your home and workplace or children’s school, designate a contact person near your home and children’s school to ensure they are taken care of if you aren’t able to get to them.

Designate a relative who lives out-of-state for the family to notify they are safe. Calling long-distance will be considerably easier than making a local call. Make sure everyone has this number memorized.

Complete a contact card for each family member, ensure they have a cell phone or prepaid phone, and designate ICE (in case of emergency) contacts.

Make friends with a neighbor and exchange information. The more people looking out for you and your family, the better.

Have a plan for your pets as well and pre-pack supplies for their survival, too.